Esophagus Spasm? - Heart Disorders Message Board

stevencu · 08-31-2004, 12:31 AM

Hi all - sorry for cross posting - this is also in the digestive disorders forum but I thought that people browsing this forum may have some input or views so here it goes...

I have been havin gthese thumping feeling in my chest for the last 2 years. Sometimes they are heavy, accute thumps and sometimes little quivers. I got very anxious about this as I was 99% sure this would be my heart.

I went to the hospital and had a resting ECG and Treadmill ECG and these were proved to be fine - no problems at all. Recently I got worried again and decided to have a holter monitor fitted which monitored my heart for 24 hours. During this period, I had a very heavy accute thump in the centre of my chest and noted down the time. Much to my surprise and relief, the doctor said that the monitor did not report any change whatsoever to the heart activity at and around the time noted and all the 24 hour report told him was that I had a few extra beats which he said everyone has (I obviously don't feel them). My quesiton then is I know that there are no other muscles in this area other than the eosphugus. Could this be what is causing the spasm? And if so - has anyone got any ideas as to what I could to about it?

Thanks in advance,

Steve.

zip2play · 08-31-2004, 07:04 AM

Steve,
I think an esophageal spasm is EXTREMELY painful.

stevencu · 08-31-2004, 06:07 PM

Hi - thanks for both of your replies.

zip2play - Yes - I've found out that the spasms are painful ini about 90% of the people who report them - someone told me it may be diffuse esophagus spasm?

simplegirl - The doctor has told me that these spasms that I feel are not my heart as there was no change in the holter reading when this happened - none whatsoever and it was a pretty huge accute thump - if it was my heart I'm sure that the reading would have gone crazy. I'm just so frustrated now more than anything - I've had it for 2 years and have still not been diagnosed or treated. I'm trying some anti acid reflux tablets today to see if they help.

Steve.

absigailg83 · 09-03-2004, 08:17 AM

Hey,
I have learned about esophageal spasms in nursing school and they are not always painful, but just an uncomfortable sensation that can be caused by anxiety or GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease). Try an antacid when you experience them or try prilosec. if these do not work, I would consider an anxiety issue.